Chapter 18
"Ah!" Téa returned the ball back to Kaiba's side, nearly falling as it left her side of the court. Yugi praised her as she regained composure. The tennis ball sped toward the elder Kaiba brother, Mokuba unable to reach it in time. Seto stood still as the ball zoomed past him, an inch from his racket-arm.
"Aw, Seto! You coulda got that!" Mokuba whined as the two at the other end celebrated, also trying to suppress their giggles.
The match went on, Kaiba finally getting fed up with Yugi's winning and playing to the best of his ability, which was pretty awesome, seeing as he didn't seem the athletic type.
"You've got…skills…Kaiba…" Téa panted as they switched sides. They were all somewhat dripping with sweat, the score tied.
"Hn." Kaiba shrugged off her compliment, taking the ball in his hand.
"Come on! Serve it, Seto!" Mokuba cried out impatiently.
A glint came into Kaiba's eye. Tossing the ball into the air, he served it, sending the projectile straight at Yugi too swiftly for him to return it. The King of Games dodged quickly, barely avoiding getting knocked out.
"Seto!" Mokuba scolded. "What're you doing!"
"Yugi, are you okay?" Téa rushed to her 'boyfriend's' aid. Seto couldn't help but feel a little jealous, even if he didn't show it.
The sinister eyes from the fence sparkled with amusement. It had been obvious that Kaiba wasn't really going to hit Yugi. Even if he had, it wouldn't have hurt.
"Time to get serious, Yugi," Kaiba told him.
"Uh…yeah…right." He then changed. Yami came out. "Ready to lose…Kaiba?"
"Hm. I highly doubt that'll happen in your lifetime, pharaoh."
"We'll see."
The game intensified, the shots becoming more and more dangerous. Téa and Mokuba were now out of the game, as the other two were preoccupied with playing against one another. The girl and little Kaiba tried as hard as they could to stay out of their way.
But they couldn't be 'eliminated' forever. Mokuba took a shot at the ball, tired of being left out. Téa hit it as hard as she could, right between the Kaiba brothers, scoring. She had won the game.
While her 'team' was celebrating, a sudden clapping coming from the fence startled them. Téa gasped. Kaiba's eyes narrowed as the figure approached them.
"Just as I'd expect," it announced, "from my future employee."
"What are you after, Garcon?" Kaiba demanded, furious. Nobody had ever seen him this way.
"What do you think, Kaiba, buddy?" Turning to Téa, he said, "We meet again, mademoiselle." He approached Téa and kissed her hand once again, angering Yugi as well. Téa herself didn't seem all that enthusiastic, either.
"What the h-ll are you doing to my girlfriend!" Yugi came back out, shouting something that no one had ever heard come out of his mouth before.
"Yugi…" Téa whispered.
"Don't worry…um…Yugi. I'm not going to take her from you…yet," Marc threatened. "How about a game, Kaiba? To settle disputes?"
A moment of silence followed.
"Mokuba, go get some drinks," Kaiba commanded his younger brother.
"But…"
"Now." He was frightening when he was ticked off. Mokuba was too afraid to protest.
"O-okay." He ran off to buy some sodas.
"Téa, maybe we should go, too," Yugi suggested, now calm again, and sensing major hostility.
"You go. I have to stay."
Yugi was quiet for a minute, debating. He didn't want to see whatever it was that happened, but he may be needed. Also, he didn't want Téa to be around if things got ugly, which they might, seeing as Mokuba was sent off.
"Um…but…" Someone had to make sure Mokuba didn't get into any trouble anyway…and Téa was there. If Kaiba needed help, even if he wouldn't admit it, she could come and get him. "Okay." He took off to find Mokuba.
Téa seated herself on a nearby bench, gazing on with worry as Kaiba accepted the challenge, praying that Seto won. She knew he was good, but from the look on Marc's face, and the rumors, the Frenchman was better.
'This doesn't look good…' she thought.
"Prepare yourself, Kaiba!" Marc threatened, pointing his racket in an intimidating manner at her boss. "You WILL lose! I'll make you regret that you didn't accept my previous offer."
"Whatever," came the nonchalant response.
"You could've benefited from that offer, but now, it looks like I'll get what I want…for FREE!"
"Shut up and serve, Garcon."
Marc, infuriated by the order, tossed the ball into the air and sent it flying swiftly at Kaiba.
Téa gasped. This guy wasn't kidding. He had skills. And more than enough to whoop the pants off of Kaiba.
"The game's not over." Kaiba picked up the ball from where it had been flung into the fence after hitting right inside the line.
"Bring it on."